Christian Wilkins, the former Miami Dolphins star and one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest off-season signings, has been released—and it’s not just about football.
The defensive tackle, who signed a massive four-year, $110 million deal just last year, is no longer with the team after a series of off-field issues that came to a head this summer. One of the key incidents? A forehead kiss.
According to multiple reports, Wilkins kissed a teammate on the head during a team meeting, which he allegedly saw as light-hearted. But the teammate didn’t take it that way and went straight to HR with a complaint. That one moment reportedly set off a chain of problems for Wilkins inside the locker room.
But the kiss wasn’t the only thing causing friction. Wilkins had been dealing with a serious foot injury—specifically a Jones fracture—and he reportedly clashed with the Raiders’ medical staff. The team recommended surgery, but Wilkins pushed back, opting for rehab instead. That decision didn’t sit well with the front office.
Combine that with the HR issue, and the Raiders decided to pull the plug.
Wilkins only played five games with the team, racking up 17 tackles and two sacks before being shut down due to the injury. Just like that, one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in NFL history was out—and the team is also trying to void over $35 million in guarantees from his deal.
Now Wilkins is filing a grievance with the NFL Players Association to fight for his money.
Head coach Pete Carroll didn’t say much, only that the decision took time and wasn’t rushed. As for teammates and insiders, the whole situation seems messy. Some reports say the team’s leadership is urging players to focus on “mental health” and keep things in-house.
